Paget made the long trip to Ludlow for Saturday’s game against Shawbury United. After a couple of recent reverses Paget were looking to bounce back as they resumed league action. And bounce back they certainly did on a very heavy pitch.
The game was barely a minute old when early pressure from Paget saw the ball cleared outside the box where Louie Newbold fired an absolute screamer on the half volley into the top corner leaving the Shawbury keeper clutching at thin air! Without any doubt a goal of the season contender.
Paget were looking lively with a very youthful side taking the game to Shawbury in the early stages. Shawbury though showed why their fortunes had taken an up turn in recent weeks and gradually got themselves back into the game.
The pressure was beginning to tell on the young Paget defence, marshalled expertly by centre back Harry Parker. In fact after a Shawbury attack had seen them hit the post, it was Parker to the rescue as another Shawbury through ball saw goalkeeper Ben Ntiri come racing outside of his box but fail to deal with the on rushing Shawbury forward, only succeeding in forcing him wide. It seemed certain that the Shawbury man would score but as he pulled the trigger Parker leapt like a salmon, diving full length to get his head to the ball and send it behind for a corner.
Inevitably it seemed that Shawbury would score and with Paget unable to escape from their own half Shawbury won another corner. A good cross was headed firmly into the net past the diving Ntiri.
With Shawbury in the ascendency it would have been easy for Paget to have rolled over but this young team showed they were made of sterner stuff. With Ryan Butler and Ollie Gethin, who has waited patiently for his opportunity in recent weeks, getting through a mountain of work in midfield and the strength and running of Rivel Mardenborough up front and Tim Oyanda out wide, Paget gradually turned the tide and re took the lead through a fine finish again from the ever alert and lively Newbold.
The sign of all good teams is to make the pressure tell and after taking the lead again the confidence seemed to ooze through the Paget team and from a good ball in behind the Shawbury defence a mix up between the outrushing keeper and centre back saw the ball slide past both of them to leave the alert Mardenborough a clear run to goal, to pass the ball into an empty net. It was little more than the Paget man deserved for a fine centre forwards performance all afternoon.
As the teams kicked off in the second half it was clear that Manager Steve Walker had urged his young team to compete for everything and they certainly did. Playing for each other with a dogged second half performance Shawbury were unable to build any sustained pressure. In fact it was Paget who came closest to scoring again when a great through ball saw Newbold clean through on goal, with his hat trick beckoning the Paget man shot just over. But Paget were not to be denied and held firm to the delight of their travelling fans!
Final Score – Shawbury 1 v Paget Rangers 3
MOTM – Ravel Mardenborough